Track-sanding apparatus



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. A. HOUSTON. TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

No. 585,035. Patented June 22,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. A. HOUSTON. I TRAGK SANDING APPARATUS.

No. 585,035. Patnted June 22, 1897 WASKXNGYON n c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JEROME ADOLPH HOUSTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

TRACK-SANDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,035, dated June 22,1897.

Application fil d March 8, 1897. Serial No. 626,369. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME ADOLPH HoUs- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State ofMissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inTrack-Sanding Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a viewillustratinginy improved sanding apparatus in position on a locomotive.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sand-box with my apparatus in position.Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2.- Fig. 4 is a sectionalview on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the double nozzle.Fig. 6. is a sectional view of the same on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is asectional view of the engineers valve for controlling the pressure, someof the 4 parts of said valve being detached.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in track-sandingdevices for railway-locomotives, the object being to provide a device ofthe character described which is simple, cheap, and effective and onewhich is within immediate control of the engineer.

The invention consists in details of construction and arrangements ofthe several parts comprising my apparatus, all as will hereinafter bedescribed,and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A indicates the sand-box, of usual construction,into'which the dry sand to be delivered to the rails is placed.

B indicates a sand-delivery pipe whose ends terminate above each rail,said pipe passing through the lower portion of the sand-box,

thus making the pipe practically continuous.

O indicates the delivery-pipe, which I will call the rear delivery-pipe,whose ends terminate above the rails on each side and which pipe passesthrough the bottom of the sandbox, said pipe being practicallycontinuous. These delivery-pipes B and O are designed to deliver sand tothe rails, so that the engine will be enabled to grip the rails whilegoing in either direction.

D indicates a coupling or casting which is shown more fully in Figs. 5and 6. This coupling is practically divided into two branches, eachbranch forming a part of the front and. back delivery pipes B and C.These branches, which are designated as cl and d, the former formingpart of the front delivery-pipe and the lattera part of the backdelivery-pipe, are each provided with one or more openings (1, which arepreferably in the lower sides of said branches.

E indicates a threaded extension from which said branches lead, and towhich extension is secured a head F, preferably by a union-coupling.This head F has arranged through it two pressure-supply ducts G and G,which communicate by ducts formed in the shanks of the respectivebranches with nozzles H, bored parallel with the axial line of saidbranches, said bore being open at each end of its nozzle and locatedcentrally relative to said branches.

When pressure is supplied through either of the pipes G and G, or both,it passes through the ducts in the coupling D and out each end of thenozzle in opposite directionsl This blast passes into the delivery-pipe,and in so doing creates a partial vacuum behind, which lifts or sucksthe sand into the delivery-pipe, where it is drawn or forced out inopposite directions and delivered simultaneously to each rail. Thenozzles are preferably of a length corresponding to the length of theopening or openings in the branches of the coupling D, so that nopressure from the blasts will be directed against the sand in thesand-box. By this construction I get excellent results, as very littlepressure will create blasts of sufficient strength to draw up the sand,as gravity is the only element necessary to overcome.

Pressure is preferably taken from the main reservoir of the air-brakesystem through the medium of a pipe I, upon the end of which is secureda valve-casing J, containing a coneshaped plug-valve K. I prefer tointerpose a screen L between the pipe I and valve for obvious reasons.Valve K is operated by a suitable handle M, which is preferably providedwith a spring-pressed pin m, cooperating with a notched track j on thevalve-casing for determining the correct position of registration of theports in the valve and the valve-casing. The valve is provided with fourports, which cooperate with two ports a and b in the valve-casing. Portsa and b communicate with pipes G and G, which are mounted in a suitablehead N and coupled to the valve-casing in any desired manner.

The manner of controlling and directing pressure from the source ofsupply to the nozzles is as follows: Vhen the valve is in the positionshown in Fig. 7, port 1 registers with port I) and pipe G and directspressure to the nozzle in the front deliverypipe, pressure to the nozzlein the rear delivery-pipe being shut off at this operation. IVhen port 2is caused to register with port a, the pressure is shut off from thefront delivery-pipe and is directed to the rear delivery-pipe. lVhenports 3 and 4 register with ports a and b, both delivery pipes areoperated. The valve is formed with a blind side to shut offcommunication with the ports a and b.

It will be noted that the construction of the hollow conical-shapedplug-valve is such that the pressure constantly holds it to its seat,and the operation of manipulating the valve will so grind it that aperfectly tight fit is insured at all times.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. In a sanding device, the combination with the sand-box, of adelivery-pipe for the sand, which pipe passes through the lower portionof said box, the ends of said pipe being located in juxtaposition to therails, a coupling in the length of said delivery-pipe, an opening oropenings in said coupling, and a nozzle arranged in the couplingopposite said opening, said nozzle directing blasts in oppositedirections into the delivery-pipe, whereby, the sand in the box issucked up and forced into and through the deliverypipe in oppositedirections to each rail; substantially as described.

2. In a sanding device, the combination with the sand-box, of acontinuous deliverypipe arranged through the lower portion thereof, theends of said delivery-pipe terminating above the rails, a coupling inthe length of said delivery-pipe, said coupling having an opening oropenings within the sand-box, a blast-nozzle in said coupling fordirecting blasts of air in opposite directions through thedelivery-pipe, said nozzle being substantially the length of the openingin the coupling, and a valve for controlling said blasts, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with a sand-box, of front and back deliverypipeswhich pass through the lower portion of said box, of a coupling formedwith two branches, said branches being respectively portions of thedelivery-pipes, openings in the lower side of said coupling branches,nozzles in said branches, and two pressu re-supply pipes leading to saidnozzles, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a sand-box, of front and back delivery-pipeswhich pass through the lower portion of said box, a coupling formed oftwo branches, said branches being respectively portions of thedeliverypipes, openings in the lower side of said coupling branches,blast-nozzles in said branches opposite said openings, said nozzlesbeing substantially the length of said openings, pressure-supply pipesleading to said nozzles, and a valve for admitting pressure to either orboth of said supply-pipes; substantially as described.

5. In a track-sanding apparatus, the combination with the sand-box, of adivided coupling containing blast-nozzles, deliverypipes,pressure-supply pipes leading to said nozzles, and a valve forcontrolling the pressure in said supply-pipes, said valve comprising asuitable casing, a hollow plug-valve within the casing which is seatedby pressure, a handle for operating said valve, and means fordetermining the registration of the ports in the valve, with the portsin the valve-casing; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 23d day of February, 1897.

JEROME ADOLPI'I HOUSTON.

Witnesses:

QUINCY ALLEN, WM. MILLER.

